Full Breakdown
DeChambeau’s Two-Stroke Penalty Overshadows Record-Tying Rounds at the 2026 Open Championship
7/18/2026, 12:08:19 PM
The Penalty Incident
During the second round of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Friday, July 17, 2026, Bryson DeChambeau (United States) was assessed a two-stroke penalty for “inadvertently improving the area of his intended backswing” on the fifth hole. Officials determined that DeChambeau’s movement in thick, high grass behind his ball had tamped down the turf, potentially affecting his backswing. The penalty changed his score from a four-under 66 to a 68, dropping him from a tie for second place at seven-under to a tie for fifth at five-under.
Official Explanation
R&A Executive Director of Governance Grant Moir explained that Rule 8 permits a player to take reasonable actions to reach the ball, but any action that improves the condition affecting the stroke must be the least intrusive possible. He stated:
> “A player is allowed to fairly take their stance by taking reasonable actions to get to the ball and take a stance, if in some situations that improves the condition affecting the stroke,” — Grant Moir, R&A
Moir added that the rule applies even when the improvement is accidental. Tournament officials, including chief referee Mark Luiten, escorted DeChambeau back to the fifth-hole site for a review before confirming the penalty.
DeChambeau’s agent Brett Falkoff, when asked whether the American would continue on Saturday, replied, “We’ll see.” DeChambeau later posted on X that he remained determined to play.
Player Reactions
> “Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it.” — Bryson DeChambeau, player
> “Very, very proud to put my name on that list of guys that have shot 62 in a major championship. So it’s kind of holding two emotions there at the same time.” — Lucas Herbert, player
> “All you can do is continue to give myself opportunities.” — Scottie Scheffler, defending champion
Jon Rahm, who received a conduct warning for throwing a club, acknowledged the incident, saying he understood the rule’s intent.
Criticism of the Ruling Process
Commentators highlighted the “circus-like” handling of the situation. One analysis described the R&A’s decision-making as “absurd” and argued that the prolonged on-course investigation, including a televised ticker and a delay of more than an hour after DeChambeau finished his round, was inappropriate for a major championship. Critics also noted that the penalty was applied despite video evidence showing the ball itself never moved.
Impact on the Leaderboard
Lucas Herbert’s 62 tied the major-championship record, giving him an eight-under 132 after 36 holes. Sam Burns matched the record with his own 62 shortly thereafter. DeChambeau’s penalty moved him from one shot behind Herbert to three shots back, reshaping the top of the field as the weekend approached. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler finished with a 68, four shots behind the leader, while Jackson Suber, Ryan Gerard and Cameron Young were tied for second.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- AP reports state DeChambeau’s original 66 became a 68; Fox News reports his score changed from 68 to 70.
- Some outlets describe the penalty as dropping DeChambeau from seven-under to five-under, while others note a shift from one shot behind the leader to three shots behind. The exact pre-penalty standing varies across sources.
Why It Matters
The incident underscores the strict enforcement of equipment-and-stance rules at golf’s oldest major and raises questions about procedural transparency during live tournaments. It also illustrates how a single penalty can dramatically alter the competitive landscape, affecting both player morale and spectator perception of fairness.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it.” — Bryson DeChambeau, player
- “Very, very proud to put my name on that list of guys that have shot 62 in a major championship. So it’s kind of holding two emotions there at the same time,” — Lucas Herbert, player
- “A player is allowed to fairly take their stance by taking reasonable actions to get to the ball and take a stance, if in some situations that improves the condition affecting the stroke,” — Grant Moir, R&A
- “But when doing so, the player must take the least intrusive course of action to deal with the particular situation and is not entitled to a normal stance or swing.” — Grant Moir, R&A
- “All you can do is continue to give myself opportunities,” — Scottie Scheffler, defending champion
- “It’s not like I’m going to ... if I try to alter who I am too much, it might cost me a little bit on the course,” — Jon Rahm, player
